Apologizes

An Ohio judge Sunday sentenced two teenage boys to at least a year in a juvenile detention facility after finding them guilty of raping a classmate in a closely watched trial that hinged on text messages, tweets and pictures shared online and among the defendants and their friends. Judge Thomas Lipps' sentence means Ma'Lik Richmond, 16, and Trent Mays, 17, could remain in detention until the age of 21. Mays, who was also convicted of using nudity-oriented material involving a minor, for having pictures of the girl on his cellphone, was sentenced to an additional year in detention.

My father always told me to beware a man with no regrets. Even a life lived wisely with the best intentions, he said, is inevitably pocked with mistakes and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Dick Cheney is a man with no regrets. When the Showtime documentary "The World According to Dick Cheney" had its premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival, many expressed disappointment that director R.J. Cutler, an Oscar-nominated documentarian whose films include "The War Room" and "A Perfect Candidate," did not take a harder line or produce more damning evidence of the former vice president's role in various national scandals.

It was the Oscar night tweet heard 'round the world: While 9-year-old lead actress nominee Quvenzhane Wallis was enjoying her first Academy Award celebration, satirical website the Onion was disparaging the "Beasts of the Southern Wild" star with a tweet that generated outrage. The tweet read, in part: "Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhane Wallis is ... " and then referred to her by a crude obscenity. The backlash to the brief message happened quickly, and within an hour the Onion, known primarily for its smart, satirical take on pop culture, removed the offensive tweet from its feed.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny offered an emotional apology Tuesday for  government involvement in a harsh system of laundries run by Roman Catholic nuns, where women and girls labored long hours behind locked doors, unpaid and often bewildered about why they were there. “As a society, for many years we failed you,” Kenny said in a televised official apology Tuesday before the Irish Parliament. “This is a national shame.” Kenny stopped, his voice breaking, and then concluded, “Let me hope that this day and this debate heralds a new dawn for all those who feared that the dark midnight might never end.” The apology came two weeks after a report found that the Irish government had been involved in the infamous Magdalen laundries , helping to send girls and women into the workhouses, paying them through government programs and contracts, and bringing runaways back in the hands of police.

John Harbaugh was a bit sheepish about his emotional outbursts at officials in Super Bowl XLVII, but his combustible younger brother said Tuesday he didn't regret his own eruptions of emotions. "We fight to win," San Francisco Coach Jim Harbaugh said in his season-capping news conference at 49ers headquarters. "And if you're asking does my personal etiquette need to be changed, more catatonic on the sideline? I don't anticipate that happening. " Jim Harbaugh was particularly upset about a pivotal play at the end of the game, when he felt receiver Michael Crabtree was held by Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith on fourth and goal from the Baltimore five-yard line.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver apologized Wednesday night for anti-gay remarks he made during a Super Bowl media day interview with comedian Artie Lange. "The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel," Culliver said in a statement released by the team. "It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.

MEMPHIS -- In an almost-empty locker room, Dwight Howard took accountability. The Lakers center apologized for complaining about not getting enough touches and promised to improve his demeanor on the NBA's most underperforming team this season. "It starts with me," he said Wednesday after the Lakers' morning shoot-around. "I have to be more of a player out there on the court and not worry about anything, not complain. Just do what I do best. " Howard was not happy after getting only five shots in the Lakers' 95-83 loss Monday to Chicago.

LA JOLLA -- Media members from all over the world packed the press tent at Torrey Pines on Wednesday to hear star golfer Phil Mickelson speak about...taxes. Yes, it's already been a strange week at the Farmers Insurance Open. Following up on a statement he issued late Monday night, Mickelson offered a personal apology for comments he made about California's tax system. "You know, I've made some dumb, dumb mistakes and, obviously, talking about this stuff was one of them," Mickelson said.

The wife of New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker has apologized for her remarks about Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in the wake of the Ravens' 28-13 win over the Patriots in the AFC title game. On her Facebook page, Anna Welker posted the following comment after the loss: "Proud of my husband and the Pats. By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis' Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player!